Apparatus for starching clothes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. B. DOW. APPARATUS FOR STARGHNG CLOTHES.

Patented Jan. 9, 1894.

@Dvi/knew e o (No Model.) A W B DOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

. APPARATUSTOR STARGHING CLOTHES.

No. 512,282. Patented Jan.9, 1894.

WMM/woes @Wma/vbo@ `N 1'/- i v W Q Q @13 @Monuc/HM u UNITED lStiff-fries PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. DOV, OF VILKES-BARR, PENNSYLVANIA. i

APPARATUS FOR STARCHING CLOTH ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 512,282, dated January 9, 1894. Application iiled September 28, 1893.- Serial No. 486,684. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern.'

Be it knownthat I, WILLIAM B. DOW, a citizen of theUnitedStates,residingatWilkes- Barr, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Starching Clothes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.l

My invention relates to that class of starching machines wherein the clothes to be starched are suspended in a starch receptacle and so arranged that no part other than that requiring the starch is subjected to its action.

Referring to the accompanying ,drawings for a complete disclosure of my invention: Figure l represents a perspective view of a complete machine; Fig. 2 a perspective view showing a detail; Fig. 3 aperspective view of the pinion for holding the top of the machine together, and Fig. 4 a perspective View illustrating the manner of suspending the clothes.

The reference letterA indicates the hollow body of the machine which is rectangular in shape and forms the starch receptacle. This body is supported upon the legs A and the upper side is closed by the top B, which rests on the edges of the body, which is provided with a strip of packing material C to form a tight joint.

Secured to the body A upon both sides thereof is the curved lever O, which has one end pivotally connected to a hook N which is in turn detachably connected to the top B by means of a pin or stud thereon. Operating with the lever O is a cam lever P, which is arranged, when moved to the left, to engage the lever O and force it to turn on its pivot so as te clamp the top B down tightly on the body A and thus form a hermetic connection.

The top B is composed of two parallel side bars connected at one end by an end piece B and provided with a raised portion b, by which the top may be lifted. Formed in each end of the side bars on their inner sides, are longitudinal grooves c, which extend the entire length of the bars and receive the trunnions of the rollers E and sliding block F. The rollers E are of a sufficient number to form, when in engagemenn'a closed top or cover,

lwhile the block F is adapted to engage the pawl K2 and operating to keep said pawl in engagement with the teeth of the pinion H, is a leaf springKhaving its free end turned up whereby it may be grasped and lifted to release the pawl K2. f

D indicates a steam pipe which passes through the side of and extends longitudinally within the bottom of the body A, and is connected with the pipe D2 which communicates with any suitable steam boiler", a valve .d being employed to regulate the escape of steam. l

L represents a plug whereby the starch may be withdrawn from the body A.

Secured to the body A, at each end and on one side, are vertical standards M tothe upper ends of which a horizontal rod M is attached.

The preferred construction of my devicehaving thus been set forth, I will now proceed to describe its mode of operation. The articles to be starched are hung from the bar M and so folded that only the parts to be starched, such as the bosom, yoke, wrist-bands, and neck-band of the shirt, (see Fig. 4) will extend below and between the rollers E, and into the starch within the receptacle. The rollers E are now pressed ghtly' together by the block F and rack an pinion G and H, thus gripping the clothes and forming a top suliiciently steam and air-tight for the purpose desired. The valve d is now opened and the steam from the boiler allowed to enter the pipe D from whence it escapesthrough the openings in the pipe, thereby forcing the starch upward and saturating the clothes. After those parts of the clothes which are ICO within the 'udy'n have bensa't'uffeawth the requisite 'amount'of starch,"tliey' may be removed from the machine by relaxing the pressure against the rollers E sufficiently to allow the clothes to be withdrawn. In the operation of WithdrawalY thepressurebf 'the' Shawn inthe dta'wh'gs.

Havi Iigjthus `des ;'ri4 "ed'myfinv'enton, what I Lclaiirras new, anddesire'to'secure by Letters Patent't. f v i 1. An `apparatu s fforfstafrching"clothes,`co'n1 prsg a'ldynrtinldartd' f f'jnfain 'the starch andthose porti'onsfof 'the' 'clotl'eswhich are tobe subjected to its action, a top for the body.portionjeoisistingoff aframe to receive a'series of'l'aterally movable rollers, adapted 2 5 to have the clothes to be starched placed between them, means for pressing the said rollers in close engagement, whereby the top is `closed and the elothes'l'lield securely, and a steam conveying pipe, arranged in the body 5o portion, whereby the starch is thrown against the clothes, Isubstantially 'as described.

2. An apparatus for starching clothes, comprising albody portion adapted to contain the "starch," atop forthe 'body'havinga 'series' of 35 Y independent sections movable horizontally and adapted to receive the clothes between them, and means in Ithe body 'portionfor agitating thestarch, substantially asdescribed.

ln testimony whereof l vaffix my signature in 4o presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAMy BL Dow.

y VVitnesss.; Y

,G- W- LEAQH, JL, W. S. CARPENTER. 

